Metta World Peace has no interest in making a bury-the-hatchet peace gesture with Oklahoma City's James Harden at the onset of the Los Angeles Lakers' Western Conference semifinals series against the Thunder. Eastern Conference Playoffs "I don't shake substitutes' hands," World Peace said after contributing 15 points, five rebounds and four steals in the Lakers' 96-87 Game 7 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Saturday in his first appearance since serving a seven-game suspension for his elbow to Harden's head last month. Harden is not just any substitute of course, he's the Sixth Man of the Year who suffered a concussion in the second quarter of the Lakers' 114-106 double-overtime win over the Thunder on April 22 after World Peace's elbow following a dunk dropped him to the floor. World Peace issued a statement of apology following the incident and told reporters in his first public comments about the suspension nearly two weeks ago that he reached out to check on Harden's health through a third party. However, World Peace has yet to contact Harden directly and said that he has no plans to even acknowledge the Thunder's versatile wing player on the court before Game 1 on Monday. "My concern is executing the coaches' game plan and that's what my concern is," World Peace said when asked if he had any thoughts about facing Harden for the first time since the suspension. The mercurial Lakers forward went on to say that the entire Thunder team has a habit of ignoring the common NBA ritual of showing mutual respect before tipoff with a handshake or fist pound. SportsNation: Lakers vs. Thunder! SportsNation Two of the heavy hitters in the NBA Western Conference will square off in a great matchup. Who will win? • Cast your votes! "I shake everybody's hand before the game, but Oklahoma City, they don't shake hands," World Peace said. "Only some of them, but I don't think they really shake hands before the game. Kendrick Perkins and now (Russell) Westbrook don't shake hands either. (Russell) used to shake hands, but now he don't shake hands anymore." World Peace said that his failed handshake attempts with Perkins date back to the 2010 Finals when Perkins was a member of the Boston Celtics. "I used to go and shake hands," World Peace said. "I've been playing against Kendrick forever. Kendrick, he'll never shake your hand so I'd have to go and find Kendrick and shake his hand. In Boston, every game I'd have to go to him and say, 'Hey,' and then tap him on the butt. He don't touch my hand. But, I'm getting tired of making that walk."

There was one thing that was for certain when it came to the regular season awards—Lamar Odom did not have a chance in hell in repeating as the 6th Man of the Year. Maybe Brian Wilson had so much trouble before he got hurt because people were busy fearing another beard. James Harden of the Oklahoma City ThunderThe guy that did win it many fans did not hear much about till Metta World Peace went all Ron Artest on him a week or so ago. Folks that really follow the league though had no doubt who the 6th Man award should go to this year because they’ve followed his work all season. For the folks that cast votes there was little doubt that the award should go to Oklahoma City Thunder’s James Harden. Of the 118 ballots, Harden was first on 115 of them easily running away with the award. The top five vote getters were as follows: Harden (584 points); Louis Williams, Philadelphia 76ers (231 points); Jason Terry, Dallas Mavericks (81 points); Al Harrington, Denver Nuggets (42); Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs (28). In just over 31 minutes a game Harden contributed 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. Article by Travis Pulver